Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1981

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Abstract

The role of acetylcholine in feline predatory attack was examined by pharmacological manipulations. Attack behavior was partitioned into components of app roach (visualorientation, approach, extension of the head, trapping, seizing in the jaws, biting) and withdrawal (whole body withdrawal, retraction of the head and upper torso, swiping ) in an attempt to selectively affect specific components of the attack pattern. Carbachol, a cholinomimetic, produced an increase in the percentage of head and upper torso retractions, as well as a slight inhibition of prey seizing. Atropine methyl nitrate, an anticholinergic, was found to decrease the percentage of head and upper torso retractions, as well as the rate of swiping. The primary effect of atropine, however, was a slight, non-specific inhibition of all behaviors, as evidenced by longer latencies to kill the prey, as well as by long periods of pausing and dry mouth symptoms. Leakage of the drug into the periphery may have contributed to these effects.

Extent

50 p.

Comments

Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1981.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1981.

Identifier

FADT14047

Format

pdf

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